Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 2
By Demir Azizov – Trend:
The mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), observing Uzbekistan’s presidential election, has started its work, Johan Peter Traugott Theiler, head of the OSCE ODIHR mission, told reporters Nov. 2.
He said the OSCE ODIHR mission was sent to Uzbekistan at the invitation of the Central Election Commission and authorities of Uzbekistan.
The mission, said Theiler, will assess the conformity of the presidential election with OSCE commitments and other international standards and requirements for democratic elections, as well as with local legislation.
Members of the mission will observe the pre-election campaigns, activities of election commissions, state bodies and the resolution of electoral disputes.
The mission members will also hold meetings with representatives of state bodies and parties, as well as representatives of civil society, media and diplomatic corps accredited in Uzbekistan.
On the election day, the OSCE ODIHR observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting process, the counting of ballots and summarizing of voting results.
A statement on preliminary results will be officially presented the next day after the election, and a final report on the observation of the entire electoral process, including recommendations will be released after two months.
Uzbek Central Election Commission said earlier that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Executive Committee, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Association of World Election Bodies as well as representatives of parliaments, electoral bodies and experts from Europe, Americas, Asia-Pacific and the CIS have already expressed readiness to observe the presidential election in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is to hold an early presidential election Dec. 4 due to the death of Islam Karimov, who passed away after suffering a stroke at the age of 79 on Sept. 2.